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You should be prepared to spend thousands on equipping yourself with the best stuff money can buy. I like to use my own stuff so I am not stuck using whatever junk the company wants to supply. As long as there is an agreement that the employer will cover maintenance/repair/replacement cost if it's used on the job.

I think most self-respecting techs own their own drills, saws, gauge manifolds, torch set, scale, leak detector(s), meters, thermometers, etc. in addition to the standard hand tools. Vacuum pump could go either way. Recovery machine & cylinders usually not. Your tools are an investment in your ability to do your job without being dependent on someone else. I would have a hard time taking someone seriously as a professional if they did not make this investment in themself.

Just for illustration purposes, here's what I roll with every day. Can handle most service calls with just what's on the table there.

Most companies that I have worked for allowed me to purchase the epuipment that I will be using, such as reclaimer. If you don't go overboard they have no problem with it. As far as self reaspecting goes I disagree. The company needs to supply certain tools. As technology changes tools change. The company needs to keep all employees up to speed. They can't have one guy thatowns his own micron gage while another guy doesn't own one. Not fair to the customer, which guy do they get. Self respect is making sure the proper tools are supplied, such as evac tree and good evac hoses not those allin one gages with four valves on them. The industry has changed over my 33 years and I don't think I should be responible for upgrading my epquipment as it changes. There was no such thing as digital gauges and meters when I started. Simpson 260 was the elite meter at the time now fluke digital (imho).

Good info, in my case I work for a small company so they don't purchase the more recent tools for a quality job, and as an up incoming tech, seeing corners cut all the time for budget reasons dosent help me in the long run. Which is why I'm trying to acquire all the necessary tools for the trade. Is it fair for someone to work for a company and have to use their own vaccum pump, recovery cylinders/ machines, refrg scales, nitrogen/acetlyne tank w/ their nice regulators things like that. Wear and tear on your hard earned tools

Most companies that I have worked for allowed me to purchase the epuipment that I will be using, such as reclaimer. If you don't go overboard they have no problem with it. As far as self reaspecting goes I disagree. The company needs to supply certain tools.

OK.

Originally Posted by ckartson

As technology changes tools change. The company needs to keep all employees up to speed. They can't have one guy thatowns his own micron gage while another guy doesn't own one. Not fair to the customer, which guy do they get. Self respect is making sure the proper tools are supplied, such as evac tree and good evac hoses not those allin one gages with four valves on them. The industry has changed over my 33 years and I don't think I should be responible for upgrading my epquipment as it changes. There was no such thing as digital gauges and meters when I started. Simpson 260 was the elite meter at the time now fluke digital (imho).

If you buy quality stuff that is built to last and the technology behind it is tested and true, you won't need to upgrade anything for a long time. We are not building rocket-ships and swiss watches. Knowing how to use your tools is more important than whether it is a Digi-Cool gauge or analog gauge. You don't need a $200 vacuum manifold and $75 1/2" x 1/4" hoses to pull down a system.

I believe an employer's responsibility ends with repairing/replacing all tools that are used on the job, whether they are personal or company owned. Every company is different regarding what they supply and what they don't. Union shops in this area are required to supply any tools larger than 12" or with an electric cord. Others supply only vacuum pumps, recovery machines, and torches. Others still supply nothing, not even ladders. It is up to you who you want to work for. If you're willing to work for the guy who supplies nothing, then that's your problem, not his. It's his business. If you're using a cheap meter and it breaks, I'm not buying a Fluke for you. I'll contribute the replacement cost of your cheap meter, but the difference is coming out of your pocket. This is where the "self-respecting" part comes into play. It is your career. It is your livelihood. Do you want to be the guy with the tool bag full of chinese junk from Harbor Freight that you have to replace every week, or the guy with dependable professional quality tools that last a lifetime???